Vets thanked for operating on dog in burning Eastwood surgery

A FAMILY of animal lovers have thanked vets who continued operating on their dog for 30 minutes in a burning building.

Firefighters ventilated the ground floor of Medivet in Eastwood so vets could finish an operation on three-year-old Alsatian Tilly as colleagues fought a fire that gutted the upstairs of the surgery last Monday.

Owner Mandy Friedberg, 50, whose family also keeps another Alsatian, a cat, ducks and chickens at their Rochford home, said: “It’s beyond the call of duty.

“We really appreciate them looking after Tilly. I’m sure if she could say thank you she would.”

Practice partner Rachael Buckwell was already a few minutes into the operation, which usually takes 45 minutes to an hour, when the fire, which started in a dishwasher upstairs, set off the smoke alarm.

Tilly would be at risk of infection if taken outside and the vets would have had to put her down rather than let her suffer in the fire – something Miss Buckwell, 27, did not even consider.

Vet Carla Cruz scrubbed in to speed up the op and nurse Maria Anderson stayed to help.

The vet-of-four-years said: “It was just natural instinct really. It didn’t even really cross my mind to leave.

“It was just a case of get it done as quickly as possible and get her to safety.”

A firefighter was posted on the door to warn them if it became unsafe and the crew brought in emergency lighting as at one point they faced switching the surgery’s electricity off, but the operation went without a hitch.

Miss Buckwell said: “The fire brigade were fantastic. They did everything they possibly could so they didn’t have to interrupt us.”

Mrs Friedberg’s son, Will Shelmerdine, 19, saw the breaking news of the fire on the Echo website and, knowing Tilly was being spayed at the surgery, called his mother in a panic.

Mrs Friedberg could not reach the surgery but Medivet’s head office reassured them Tilly was safe and they picked her up from the chain’s Hockley surgery later.

The family were unaware of the modest vets’ heroic efforts until the Echo got in touch.

Mrs Friedberg said: “If she had died I would have been devastated. She was a Christmas present. She’s massively important to the family.”

Comments

Eric Whim
12:19pm Tue 15 Jan 13

well done everyone

well done everyoneEric Whim

well done everyone

Score: 0

Russ13
12:38pm Tue 15 Jan 13

I must admit I was getting a little uncomfortable reading that thinking that 3-4 people were putting their lives at risk trying to save a dog, however seeing as the Fire Service were there keeping an eye on things and making sure everyone was as safe as could be it seems like a great job alround!

I must admit I was getting a little uncomfortable reading that thinking that 3-4 people were putting their lives at risk trying to save a dog, however seeing as the Fire Service were there keeping an eye on things and making sure everyone was as safe as could be it seems like a great job alround!Russ13

I must admit I was getting a little uncomfortable reading that thinking that 3-4 people were putting their lives at risk trying to save a dog, however seeing as the Fire Service were there keeping an eye on things and making sure everyone was as safe as could be it seems like a great job alround!

Score: 0

OMPITA [UK]
1:45pm Tue 15 Jan 13

Ah, but what if it had been one of the ducks?

Mmmmmmm, will someone pass the orange sauce please...........

Ah, but what if it had been one of the ducks?
Mmmmmmm, will someone pass the orange sauce please...........OMPITA [UK]

Ah, but what if it had been one of the ducks?

Mmmmmmm, will someone pass the orange sauce please...........

Score: 0

Red Hand Gang
1:48pm Tue 15 Jan 13

Dogs risk their lives daily for us.

Dogs risk their lives daily for us.Red Hand Gang

Dogs risk their lives daily for us.

Score: 0

Russ13
2:12pm Tue 15 Jan 13

Red Hand Gang wrote…

Dogs risk their lives daily for us.

Really?

So in this instance you'd be happy for 3+ families to lose their wife/mum/auntie in order to save this single dog's life?

Get some perspective ;)

[quote][p][bold]Red Hand Gang[/bold] wrote:
Dogs risk their lives daily for us.[/p][/quote]Really?
So in this instance you'd be happy for 3+ families to lose their wife/mum/auntie in order to save this single dog's life?
Get some perspective ;)Russ13

Red Hand Gang wrote…

Dogs risk their lives daily for us.

Really?

So in this instance you'd be happy for 3+ families to lose their wife/mum/auntie in order to save this single dog's life?

Get some perspective ;)

Score: 0

cgb
7:37pm Tue 15 Jan 13

Lets not argue
Can we not have at least one story where we go- aaah thats a feel good story and just all agree on it.
Lovely looking dog- and the Alsatian's pretty cute as well

Lets not argue
Can we not have at least one story where we go- aaah thats a feel good story and just all agree on it.
Lovely looking dog- and the Alsatian's pretty cute as wellcgb

Lets not argue
Can we not have at least one story where we go- aaah thats a feel good story and just all agree on it.
Lovely looking dog- and the Alsatian's pretty cute as well

Score: 0

Devils Advocate
9:37pm Tue 15 Jan 13

I know that being in a fire area can be very worrying. Well done all those involved in this. Good to see someone besides the emergency services stepping up to the plate like this. Tilly the dog is looking happy as well!

I know that being in a fire area can be very worrying. Well done all those involved in this. Good to see someone besides the emergency services stepping up to the plate like this. Tilly the dog is looking happy as well!Devils Advocate

I know that being in a fire area can be very worrying. Well done all those involved in this. Good to see someone besides the emergency services stepping up to the plate like this. Tilly the dog is looking happy as well!

Score: 0

another council tax payer
9:16am Wed 16 Jan 13

OMPITA [UK] wrote…

Ah, but what if it had been one of the ducks?

Mmmmmmm, will someone pass the orange sauce please...........

Mmmmmmm one hopes you would have choked on it

[quote][p][bold]OMPITA [UK][/bold] wrote:
Ah, but what if it had been one of the ducks?
Mmmmmmm, will someone pass the orange sauce please...........[/p][/quote]Mmmmmmm one hopes you would have choked on itanother council tax payer

OMPITA [UK] wrote…

Ah, but what if it had been one of the ducks?

Mmmmmmm, will someone pass the orange sauce please...........

Mmmmmmm one hopes you would have choked on it

Score: 0

BusterBoo
11:59am Wed 16 Jan 13

another council tax payer wrote…

OMPITA [UK] wrote…

Ah, but what if it had been one of the ducks?

Mmmmmmm, will someone pass the orange sauce please...........

Mmmmmmm one hopes you would have choked on it

Brilliant!!!

[quote][p][bold]another council tax payer[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]OMPITA [UK][/bold] wrote:
Ah, but what if it had been one of the ducks?
Mmmmmmm, will someone pass the orange sauce please...........[/p][/quote]Mmmmmmm one hopes you would have choked on it[/p][/quote]Brilliant!!!BusterBoo

another council tax payer wrote…

OMPITA [UK] wrote…

Ah, but what if it had been one of the ducks?

Mmmmmmm, will someone pass the orange sauce please...........

Mmmmmmm one hopes you would have choked on it

Brilliant!!!

Score: 0

BusterBoo
12:00pm Wed 16 Jan 13

Russ13 wrote…

Red Hand Gang wrote…

Dogs risk their lives daily for us.

Really?

So in this instance you'd be happy for 3+ families to lose their wife/mum/auntie in order to save this single dog's life?

Get some perspective ;)

dogs are better than people...

[quote][p][bold]Russ13[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]Red Hand Gang[/bold] wrote:
Dogs risk their lives daily for us.[/p][/quote]Really?
So in this instance you'd be happy for 3+ families to lose their wife/mum/auntie in order to save this single dog's life?
Get some perspective ;)[/p][/quote]dogs are better than people...BusterBoo

Russ13 wrote…

Red Hand Gang wrote…

Dogs risk their lives daily for us.

Really?

So in this instance you'd be happy for 3+ families to lose their wife/mum/auntie in order to save this single dog's life?

Get some perspective ;)

dogs are better than people...

Score: 0

hprlady
11:06pm Wed 16 Jan 13

I worked at this practice as receptionist many years ago and I am not surprised that the current staff did what they did. We would have done the same thing too! Jackie Perkins

I worked at this practice as receptionist many years ago and I am not surprised that the current staff did what they did. We would have done the same thing too! Jackie Perkinshprlady

I worked at this practice as receptionist many years ago and I am not surprised that the current staff did what they did. We would have done the same thing too! Jackie Perkins

[quote][p][bold]another council tax payer[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]OMPITA [UK][/bold] wrote:
Ah, but what if it had been one of the ducks?
Mmmmmmm, will someone pass the orange sauce please...........[/p][/quote]Mmmmmmm one hopes you would have choked on it[/p][/quote]Not if it was done as per:
Great Barbecued Duck Recipes at
http://bbq.about.com
/od/poultry/a/aa0821
99.htm
Delicious!!OMPITA [UK]

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